Fly-screen.



H. L. FRANKE.

FLY SCREEN.

`APPLICATION FILED 001218, 1909.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

j UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

HERMAN L. FRANKE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLY-SCREEN.

pecitlc'ation of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 13, 1910. Application tiled October 18, 1908. Serial No. 523,281.

To all whom 'it may coat-em:

Be it known that I, HERMAN L. FRANKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Fly-Screens, of which the fol owing is a specification.

My invention relates to ily screens, and its rinciple object, briefly stated, comprehen s the production of `a device of the above character so constructed that flies within theroom may make their exit through the screen, but at the same time prevent the entrance of flies or other insects from the outside.

lIn the drawings which illustrate the referred form of my invention, and in w ich like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is an elevation of the inside of the screen. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the several sections of the screen closed, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring speciically to the drawings, 1

indicates the frame of the screen which may be of any desired construction and has pivotally mounted to the side bars thereof a number of screen sections 2 which form the screen proper. These screen sections are of counter art construction and each comprises a rame 3 formed of sheet metal which is clamped over the edgesof the screen material. The frames 3 are. rectangular in form and are of such length that they extend entirely across the inside of the frame 1 and have their ends Work snugly against the inner side of the side bars of said frame 1. Passing longitudinally through the up er edge of each of the frames 3 is a ro distance beyond each side of t e frame, as at 5, said projecting ends 5 adapted to be pivotall mounted adjacent the outer faces of the side bars of the frame 1 by means of staples 6, or the like. i

As will be seen by referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the sections 2 are so arranged that each section will overlap the section therebeneath a suitable distance, and are normally held in spaced relation to each other by means of flat springs 7, one bein fastened to the lower edge of all but the owerm'ost of the frames 3 of the sections 2 at 4 which pro'ects a short ing practically a solid screen.

about the middle thereof, and extending 11 wardly and bearing against the upper e ge of the frame 3 ofD the adjacent section. It will thus be seen that the sections are spaced apart thereby forming free open passages 8 through which flies within the room may escape. It being unnecessary to swing the lowermost of the sections 2, said section is made stationary within the frame 1, its lower edge being fastened to the end bar of said frame near its inner edge, by any suitable means.

To close the sections at night against the entrance of mosquitos or other insects, I provide the frame 1 with a rotatable member 10 mounted at each of its ends in suitable brackets 11 on the inner side of the end bars of said frame 1, intermediate their ends. Portions of the members 10 are offset as at 12, said offset portions 12 being normally in line with the lower edge of each of the frames 3 of the sections 2, except the lowermost. The member 10 is also oil'sct near its lower end, as at 13, said offset portion 13 beingformed at right angles to the offset portions 12, and serving as an operating handle.

To illustrate the use of my improved screen it will be stated that observation has shown that the tendency of a ily alighting on a screen or other object is, in nearly all cases, to crawl upwardly. Therefore, should any flies alight on the inside of the screen sections 2 they will crawl upwardly through the open passage 8 to the outside, but a ily alighting on the outside of the sections will not crawl downwardly through the passage 8 and enter the room. Practical tests have proven this. However, at night it is best to close the sections, because a light burning in the room will attract mosquitos and various other insects which-may, in some cases, find their way through the passages 8. To close the sections all that 1s necessary to do is to give the member 10 a quarter turn, by means of the handle 13,l

which will cause the offset portions 12 to engage the lower edges of the frames 3 and swing the sections 2 inwardly against the tension of the springs 7 until the sections t tightly against one another, thereby form- (See Fig. 3.) W'hen the member 10 is turned back again, the springs 7 will swing the sections 2 outwardly to normal position.

While I have shown my invention as applied to a window screen it will be understood that it may also be used as a door screen :1nd no limitation is implied by reason of the particular structure shown.

Ielaim:

In a ily screen, the combination with a plurality of screen sections each thereof vforming a complete frame and pivotally mounted at their upper edges to, and adapted to swine' within a mam frame in overlapping reation, springs carried by the lower edges of all but the lowermost ofy the sections and bearing against the upper edges ,turned it willv .tain the sections in s laced relation, anda rotatable member having offset portions in A line with the loweredges of the frame of the seetionswl1ereby when said member is ress the sections together against the tension of the s rings. l

In testimony whereof I agix my signature, in presence oi two Witnesses.

HERMAN L.. FRANKE. Witnesses:

ARTHUR WESLEY,

A. FASHINGBAUER, J r. 

